Several to be honored at UMM commencement Saturday

MACHIAS, Maine — The University of Maine at Machias will award degrees to more than 90 students at its 101st commencement at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 12, at the Frederic A. Reynolds Center. The University also will honor several Washington County residents during the ceremony.

Dr. Joyce Hedlund, retiring president of Washington County Community College in Calais, will deliver the commencement address. Hedlund has worked in higher education in Maine for more than 30 years, including 23 years at Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor. She will receive the university’s distinguished achievement award in recognition of her long and distinguished career in higher education and her loyal and dedicated service as an advocate for education and economic development in the Maine Community College System.

Two local residents will receive distinguished service awards at the ceremony. Scott Porter, superintendent of AOS 96, and Kenneth “Bucket” Davis, an East Machias selectman, will be recognized for their leadership and service to public education in Washington County, and for their advocacy for education funding equity throughout rural and small-town Maine.

UMM will present its distinguished alumni award to Wayne Peters, a U.S. Navy veteran and 2006 graduate of the University. Peters is a seventh- and eighth-grade math and science teacher at Bay Ridge Elementary School in Cutler. He is being recognized for his dedicated military service prior to attending UMM and his dedication to the young people of Washington County.

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Joshua Spencer, a psychology and community studies major from Machias, will deliver the Ivy Oration, presented each year by a graduating senior who speaks about their experiences at UMM. Spencer was selected by his fellow classmates for the honor.

The University also will confer emeritus rank to professor of ecology Dr. Alan Lewis during the ceremony. Lewis is retiring after 34 years of service to UMM and its students.

For more information about commencement activities at the University of Maine at Machias, contact Michael May at 255-1210.

CORRECTION:

An earlier version of this story contained an incorrect spelling of the name of the East Machias selectman. He is Kenneth “Bucket” Davis, not Kennett.